GLASGOW: India’s golden boy Abhinav Bindra stole the limelight by clinching a gold medal while unheralded teenager Malaika Goel bagged a silver as shooters added two more medals to India’s kitty on the second day of competitions in the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday.

The 31-year-old Bindra kept his nerve to take the honor in his favorite 10 m air rifle event with a final games record score of 205.3 to bring cheers for the Indian contingent.

The 16-year-old Malaika Goel gave India their first shooting medal with a silver in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event while favorite Heena Sidhu fell by the wayside at the Barry Buddon Shooting Center at Dundee.

With the addition of two more medals from the shooting ranges, India’s overall medals tally climbed to 9 after collecting seven medals on the opening day.

African champion Chika Amalaha, at just 16 years of age, won gold in the women’s 53kg weightlifting category.

World champion Joanna Rowsell claimed gold for England in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit in the cycling event.

The 25-year-old finished nearly four seconds ahead of Australia’s Annette Edmondson in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Australia also claimed bronze with Amy Cure edging out Scotland’s Katie Archibald.

Australia’s Jack Bobridge retained his men’s 4000m individual pursuit. The world record holder saw off world champion and fellow Australian Alex Edmondson in the final at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Host nation Scotland won its first track cycling gold as world champion Neil Fachie and pilot Craig MacLean won the para-sport 1000m Time Trial tandem.

Australian Kieran Modra and pilot Jason Niblett collected silver at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome while the Welsh pair of Matthew Ellis and pilot Ieuan Williams claimed bronze.

A Malaysian cyclist at the Commonwealth Games who wore gloves with “Save Gaza” written on them has been reprimanded by his team and warned he will be expelled if he does it again.

Azizulhasni Awang competed in the men’s sprint on Thursday wearing gloves that had the word “Save” written across knuckles on one hand and “Gaza” over the other. Awang’s fists featuring the message were held up to cameras after the race, which took him into the quarterfinals.

The rider said he was expressing a “humanitarian” message, not making a political protest.

2 It was the first bout of the boxing competition at the Games. Within minutes, Mathew Martin of Nauru had a large lump on his head from a punch. Northern Ireland’s Michael Conlan, who won unanimously on points, had blood streaming down his face.

That’s what fighting without protective headgear can do.

In a decision last year, the International Boxing Association stopped the use of headgear in male bouts, citing medical experts who said it would help reduce concussions.

Benson Njangiru of Kenya, who won his bantamweight fight Friday, said going into the ring for the first time without headgear was “scary.” “You have to be more worried about cuts,” said Njangiru, who won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. “But the change affects both fighters the same way.” His coach, Albert Matito, said they’ve trained without headgear for about six weeks and it was “terrible at first, but now we are getting used to it.” While female fighters and younger boxers will still use headgear, the boxing association cited medical studies that wearing headgear diffused blows to the head and allowed boxers to sustain more head shots — and potential brain damage — for longer periods of time.

The association also changed the scoring system — a pro-style 10-point format — for bouts such as those held at world championships, the Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, trying to align it with the pro ranks.

The biggest complaint, by far, has been the scrapping of headgear.

“I am certainly not in favor of it, there were two guys cut in the first fight,” said Harry Hawkins of Belfast, Northern Ireland, coach of the four-man Mozambique team.

“These guys will be getting hit far too often. It is OK in a one-off competition, but these fighters will have five bouts in 10 days. And an unlucky cut to the head might mean the best boxers don’t win.” He said the best boxing he’s seen in the amateur ranks was at the 2012 London Olympics — when boxers still wore headgear. Hawkins hopes they are reinstituted before the 2016 Games.

Not everyone is against the change.

England boxing team leader John Hallam said he’s heard nothing but positive comments about the move, and said the style of fighting in amateur bouts will change as a result.

“I think the boxers are now here to box, to keep their head out of the stance,” Hallam said. “We believe that with the headguards on, you tended to lean in, to take the punch. We all feel that won’t be a problem now.” And blood in the ring? “Unfortunately it happens, doesn’t it?” Hallam said.

British pro George Groves told a boxing website last year that the rule change doesn’t make sense.

“They need the protection headguards give at this stage of their careers,” Groves said. “I get paid to get hit in the head. These kids don’t.” But Paul Johnston, coach of the Northern Ireland team, said he’s confident that the research used by the association to cite fewer concussions is sound. He also points to a positive side benefit — a more spectator-friendly sport that allows boxer’s faces and reactions to be seen by the fans.

“It will enhance the spectator experience, and anything that increases the participation of the sport can only be a good thing,” Johnston said.

Daniel White, a spectator from Mansfield, England, who was draped in a flag and had his face painted red and white, doesn’t agree.

“They should still be wearing headgear,” White said. “It’s an important part of the safety equipment. It’s all about limiting brain damage.”